A very popular tune amongst uilleann pipers, Colonel Fraser features as number 520 in the O’Neill collection. Much like Sergeant James O’Neill (c.f. Track 10), another source of many tunes in the O’Neill collection was Mayo fiddle player, John McFadden. Written music was a stranger to McFadden and consequently he memorised all of his tunes from the whistling and playing of others. He therefore developed a vast repertoire of tunes, along with a flair for improvisation and variation. He often composed his own tunes and depended altogether on his memory for their retention. Much like the off-springs of O’Carolan’s brain, quite a few of McFadden’s jigs and reels were preserved by others who taught them to him over again. The tune was recorded by piper Johnny Doran in 1947 and was also played by James Morrison and by Patsy Touhey (who played a 2-part version).